Attempted murder-suicide suspect still hospitalized

Saturday

PORT SHELDON TWP. — The man suspected of killing his wife, then trying to kill himself is still too unwell to be taken into police custody.

Michael Scott McNeal, 55, allegedly shot his wife, Sherrilee Suzzanne McNeal, 53, at their home in the 15000 block of Barry Street in the middle of the night Tuesday, July 24.

Police were called to the scene at 3:45 a.m., where they found Sherrliee McNeal dead in or near a horse trailer on the property. Police said Sherrilee McNeal was staying in the horse trailer. Michael McNeal was found in the yard outside the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his face, said Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Capt. Mark Bennett. The couple apparently had marital issues, Bennett said.

A forensic autopsy confirmed Sherrilee McNeal died of a gunshot wound and a murder arrest warrant was issued for Michael McNeal.

However, Michael McNeal cannot be formally charged with open murder until he is well enough and cognizant of his surroundings enough to enter a plea of either guilty or not guilty before a judge. Right now, he remains in a hospital and is under guard by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.

"We're just waiting on his condition to improve enough to be arraigned," Bennett said. "That will happen, it's just a matter of when. It's possible that could be next week."

When Michael McNeal is well enough to be formally charged, those proceedings will take place in Holland's 58th District Court location. Most likely, Michael McNeal will be arraigned via a video feed from the Ottawa County Jail. The open murder charge will allow for a jury to determine whether first-degree premeditated murder or second-degree not premeditated murder is a more appropriate charge.

Police were called to the scene of the shooting after a friend of the McNeals' teenage son called 911. The 17-year-old son was online playing video games with his friends at the time of the shooting and a friend called police after hearing gunshots over the video game feed.

Based on the unique origin of the 911 call, deputies originally responding to the call believed it may be a "swatting call," when someone calls in a fake report to 911 to harass police personnel. In this case, though, the call was a true emergency situation.

The McNeals’ son is currently staying with other family members in the area.

Both first and second-degree murder carries penalties of up to life in prison if Michael McNeal is convicted of the murder of his wife.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelAudra.

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